U.S. delivers fourth C-130 Hercules to Tunisia to boost tactical airlift capacity.

The United States transferred a C-130H Hercules tactical transport aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force on January 13, 2026, during a formal event at Sidi Ahmed Air Base.

On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia confirmed the transfer of a C-130H Hercules tactical transport aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force during a ceremony at Sidi Ahmed Air Base. The delivery marked the fourth C-130 military transport aircraft provided to Tunisia since 2021, as part of ongoing bilateral military cooperation. U.S. and Tunisian officials stated the aircraft will be used for transport, security operations, joint exercises, and regional response missions.
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Developed in the early 1950s, the C-130 entered service in 1956 and has since become one of the most widely used military transport aircraft globally, with more than 2,700 Hercules produced to date. (Picture source: U.S. Embassy in Tunisia)

The C-130H was received in the presence of senior Tunisian and U.S. civilian and military officials, including U.S. Ambassador Bill Bazzi, Tunisian Minister of National Defense Khaled Sehili, Chief of Staff of the Tunisian Air Force General Mohammed Hajem, U.S. Air Force international affairs official Kelli Seybolt, and Brigadier General Shawn Holtz from U.S. Africa Command. The transfer was explicitly linked to increasing Tunisia’s available airlift capacity for transport missions, security operations, joint and combined exercises, and regional rapid response tasks. It followed earlier C-130 deliveries in June and November 2024 and was identified as part of a continuing bilateral military cooperation framework focused on air transport capabilities.

The Tunisian Air Force operates a mixed fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to support transport, training, surveillance, and operational mobility within the Tunisian Armed Forces. Its equipment inventory includes transport aircraft, trainers, and specialized platforms used for domestic operations, border security, and international missions. In recent years, the air force has expanded its capabilities with the acquisition of four Textron Aviation C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, delivered with night vision capability and a support package valued at $54 million. It has also inducted Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainer aircraft, with the first four of eight delivered in July 2023 and assigned to a squadron at Sfax Air Base, supporting both pilot training and security missions along the southern border. Within this broader equipment structure, medium tactical transport aircraft remain essential for sustaining operational reach and logistical flexibility.

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft designed to operate from short and semi-prepared runways while carrying substantial payloads. Developed in the early 1950s, the C-130 entered service in 1956 and has since become one of the most widely used military transport aircraft globally, with more than 2,700 Lockheed C-130 Hercules produced to date. Designed around a high-wing configuration, rear loading ramp, and rugged landing gear to support dispersed operations, the C-130 can transport troops, vehicles, palletized freight, or mixed loads. Over time, the Hercules family expanded into multiple variants adapted for transport, refueling, search and rescue, and special missions. The core airframe architecture has remained consistent across variants, enabling long service life and broad international adoption.

The C-130H variant represents one of the most widely produced versions of the Hercules family and entered production in the mid-1970s as an evolution of earlier C-130E models. It is powered by four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines, providing higher reliability and improved performance compared to earlier engine variants. Structural reinforcements were introduced to support increased payload and extended service life, while avionics upgrades were progressively integrated over time. The C-130H retained compatibility with austere airfield operations, which remains a defining feature of the aircraft. This variant became the backbone of many air forces’ medium transport fleets due to its balance between payload, range, and maintainability.

The C-130H can reach a maximum speed of 589 km/h at an altitude of 20,000 feet and operate with a service ceiling of 23,000 feet while carrying a payload of 19,090 kg. The maximum takeoff weight for C-130E and C-130H variants is 69,750 kg, allowing the aircraft to transport heavy vehicles, engineering equipment, or large quantities of supplies. The aircraft’s short takeoff and landing capability enables operations from runways shorter than those required by jet-powered transports. These characteristics make the C-130H suitable for tactical and regional airlift rather than strategic intercontinental transport. Its performance envelope prioritizes flexibility over speed.

The cargo hold of the C-130H is designed around a flat reinforced floor, integrated tie-down points, and a hydraulically operated rear ramp that supports both roll-on and airdrop operations. It measures approximately 12.5 meters in length, 3.12 meters in width, and 2.74 meters in height, allowing carriage of standard NATO pallets, light armored vehicles, or medical evacuation configurations. The rear ramp supports roll-on roll-off loading and airborne delivery operations, including parachute airdrops of cargo and personnel. Seating configurations can be adjusted to carry up to 92 troops or 64 fully equipped paratroopers. This internal layout has remained largely unchanged across decades due to its functional efficiency.

The C-130H was produced until the mid-1990s and remains in service with numerous air forces worldwide. Many aircraft have accumulated several tens of thousands of flight hours, supported by periodic structural inspections and life-extension programs. The availability of spare parts and global maintenance infrastructure has contributed to sustained operational use well beyond original design timelines. Within the Tunisian Air Force, the C-130H integrates into a fleet structure that includes older C-130B/Hs and newer C-130J aircraft delivered between 2013 and 2015. The H-model aircraft form the numerical backbone of Tunisia’s medium transport capability, supported by existing training, maintenance, and logistics systems developed over decades of Hercules operation. The delivery of this C-130H will strengthen the country’s capacity to sustain air transport, humanitarian assistance, and security operations.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.